Edge support for a spring unit

ABSTRACT

An improved edge support for a spring unit wherein a plurality of edge supports are situated along the edges of the spring unit and are each comprised of a pair of wire members that have a supporting position and a non-supporting position. The wire members are initially disengaged in the non-supporting position to allow the spring unit to be baled. The wire members can be readily interlocked to establish a supporting position where each of the wire members operates as a lever bending about a fulcrum and thus reinforces and stiffens the edges of the spring unit.

United States Patent 1 Basner 1 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 EDGE SUPPORT FOR A SPRING UNIT 3,397,914 8/1968 Richardson ..s/351 Inventor: Ernest L- Basner Littleton, Colo. 2,798,233 7/1957 Robell .5/35l [73] Assignee: Sealy, Inc., Chicago, Ill. Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Filed March 23 1971 Attorney-Hume, Clement, Hume & Lee

[21] Appl. No.: 127,115 [57] ABSTRACT An improved edge support for a spring unit wherein a 52 us. Cl ..5/260, 5/249 plurality of edge ppo are Situated along t edges 51 int. Cl ..A47 23/04 the Swing and are each mmprised a P of 581 Field of Search ..5/260 261 272 351 249- wire members that have suppming and a 5 non-supporting position. The wire members are initially disengaged in the non-supporting position to allow the spring unit to be baled. The wire members [56] References Cited can be readily interlocked to establish a supporting UNITED STATES PATENTS position where each of the wire members operates as a f l lever bending about a fulcrum and thus reinforces and wlSe Stiffens the edges of the spring unit 2,713,470 7/1955 Bodnar ..248/302 2,510,646 6/1950 Meers 248/ 302 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures EDGE SUPPORT FOR A SPRING UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an edge support for a spring unit and more particularly to an edge support for mattress inner spring units.

The edges of mattress inner spring units are often reinforced and stiffened with between members positioned along the side walls of the spring unit between the upper and lower border wires. Exemplary edge supports are described and illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 2,932,832 and 3,022,521. It is the practice to compress or bale mattress inner spring units to conserve space during shipment from the manufacturer of the spring unit to the mattress manufacturer. Heretofore, these spring units could not be baled with the edge support members in the spring unit. Thus, the edge support members were installed by the mattress manufacturer, necessitating additional operations and expense in completion ofthe mattress.

SUMMARY-OFTHE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an edge support for a spring unit which, after insertion into the spring unit, may be readily engaged to reinforce and stiffen the edges of the spring unit or disengaged to allow baling of the spring unit.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accordance with the invention by providing a pair of wire members that are attachable to the edges of a spring unit and have a supporting position and a non-supporting positionfThe pair of wire members are initially disengaged in the non-supporting position to allow the spring unit to be baled. The pair of wire members can readily be interlocked to establish a supporting position where the wire members reinforce and stiffen the edges of the spring unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS inner spring unit embodying a further modification of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective ofa fragmentary portion of an inner spring unit embodying still a further modification of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. I, 2 and 3 there is illustrated a mattress inner spring unit I utilizing edge supports 12 which embody the preferred features of the present invention and are located intermittently along the edges of the spring unit 10. The edge supports I2 comprise pairs of wire members 20, 30 positioned between an upper border wire 14 and a lower border wire I6 encompassing upper and lower faces, respectively, of the inner spring unit 10. The wire members 20, 30 are in a supporting position when interlocked and a non-supporting position when disengaged. The wire members 20, 30 are initially disengaged to allow the inner spring unit 10 to be baled. However, each pair of wire members 20, 30 can be readily interlocked without a need of fastening means, to establish a supporting position. In the supporting position the wire members 20, 30 are interlocked and oppose any compression of the edges of the spring unit 10. Each of the wire members 20, 30

operates as a lever bending about a fulcrum when in the supporting position.

Considering the edge supports 12 in more detail, FIG. I shows a plurality of edge supports 12 positioned along the edges of the spring unit 10 and attached between an upper border wire 14 and a lower border wire 16 so as to extend into the interior of the spring unit 10. Each edge support 12 is comprised ofa pair of wire members 20, 30. Each wire member 20, 30 is made of a single piece of upholstery grade wire and is generally U-shaped so as to have an open end portion and a closed end portion. The open end portions of each wire member 20, 30 are attached between the opposing faces of the spring unit 10 by having arms 22, 32 attached to the border wires 14 and 16, respectively. The arms 22 are secured to the border wire 14 by insertion between the border wire 14 and a border helical wire 15. The arms 32 are similarly secured between the border wire 16 and a border helical wire 17. Likewise, the arms 22, 32 may be reversed and attached to the border wires I6 and 14, respectively, without hindering the ability of the edge supports 12 to reinforce and stiffen the edges of the spring unit 10.

After the wire members 20, 30 are united with the spring unit 10 they are initially disengaged to allow the inner spring unit 10 to be baled. However, the closed ends 'ofeach pair of wire members 20, 30 can be interlocked with one another, without the need of fastening means, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, to establish a supporting position which provides the edges of the spring unit 10 with reinforcement.

It is the structure of the closed ends of the wire members 20, 30 that enables them to be interlocked with one another in the supporting position. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the closed end of the wire member 20 comprises a small loop portion 24. The closed end of the wire member 30 comprises a large loop portion 34. The small portion 24 extends through the larger loop portion 34 to interlock the wire members 20, 30 and to establish the supporting position for the edge support 12.

When the wire members 20, 30 are interlocked they operate as levers bending about a fulcrum. The wire member 20 has shoulders 26 extending from the small loop'portion 24 which rest on a portion of the larger loop 34. The point of contact between the shoulders 26 and the loop portion 34 serves as the fulcrum for the wire members 20, 30. The closed end of each of the wire members 20, 30 is prevented from bending about the fulcrum because of the contact between .the loop portions 24, 34. The open ends of the wire members 20, 30 are attached to their respective border wires 14, I6 and will bend about the fulcrum as the edges are compressed. However, the strength of the-wire mem bers 20, 30 resists any such compressive forces, and thereby strengthens and rigidifies the edges of the spring unit 10. The resiliency of the wire members 20, 30 allows them to return the border wires l4, 16 to their original position as the compressive force is reduced or removed.

it is preferred that the small loop portion 24 be bent concave'as illustrated in FIG. 2 so that the loop portion 24 is prevented from being unintentionally withdrawn from the large loop portion 34 and thus causing the edge support 12 to release its supporting position. The degree the loop portion 24 is bent regulates how far apart the open ends of the wire members 20, 30 are when the wire members 20, 30 begin to operate as levers. If the loop portion 24 is only slightly bent then the open ends of the wire members 20, 30 are fairly close together, which means the edges are almost fully compressed, before the loop portions 24, 34 engage the opposing wire members 20, 30 and enable them to act as a lever. However, a greater bend in the loop portion 24 provides a greater distance between the open ends of the wire members 30, 30 when they begin to act as levers and afford support to the edges. Preferably, the loop portion 24 is bent to the degree that allows the edges to which the wire members 20, 30 are attached to receive support during the slightest compression. The large loop portion 34 may be also bent concave to regulate the distance between the open ends of the wire members 20, 30. The loop portion 34, when concave, can be used in conjunction with a concave loop portion 24 as illustrated in FIG. 4, or with a flat loop portion 24, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 6, a fragmentary portion of a mattress inner spring unit H is shown having an edge support 112 positioned therein. The operation and structure of the edge support 112 is the same as the edge support 12 described in the preferred from of the invention with the exception that the structure is modified by having pairs of wire members 120, 130 formed from border wires encompassing opposing faces of the spring unit 110. The'wire member 120 is formed from a border wire 114, as shown in FIG. 4, and the wire member 130 is formed from a border wire encompassing the opposing face of the spring unit 110. The wire members 120, 130 are formed at identical locations and are aligned with each other along the edges of the spring unit 110 so that their'closed ends can be interlocked when the border wires are added to the spring unit 110.

in a further embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 7, the edge supports 2 12 are the same as the edge support 12 described in the preferred form of the invention with the exception that the structure is modified by having arms 22, 32 located on wire members 20, 30 respectively, extended to overlap. Thus, the overlapping of the adjacent arms 32 provides an entire border on one face of the inner spring unit 2l0 and likewise, the overlapping of the adjacent arms 32 provides an entire border on the opposing face of the inner spring unit 210. The overlapping arms 22 and the over lapping arms 32 are secured to the outermost coil springs by helical wires and 17, respectively, and thus, eliminate the need for a separate border wire.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a spring unit an edge support construction comprising:

a. a pair of wire members being interlocked with one another in a supporting position so that each wire member has one end constrained and the other end attached to an edge of said spring unit;

b. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about a fulcrum located between said constrained ends and said attached ends in said supporting position; and

c. said pair of wire members being disengaged from one another in a non-supporting position so that each wire member is separated at one end and attached at the other end to said edge of said spring unit.

2. In a spring unit an edge support construction comprising:

a. a pair of wire members being interlocked with one another in a supporting position so that each wire member has one end constrained and the other end attached to an edge ofsaid spring unit;

b. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about a fulcrum located between said constrained ends and said attached ends so as to oppose any compression ofsaid edge;

c. said wire members being attached to said edge of said spring unit so as to provide support between opposing faces of said spring unit; and

said pair of wire members being disengaged from one another in a nonsupporting position so that each wire member is separated at one end and attached at the other end to said edge of said spring unit.

3. la the spring unit of claim 1 wherein each of said wire members are interlocked at one end with one another in said supporting position.

4. In the spring unit of claim 1 wherein each of said wire members are resilient so as to bend about said fulcrum when compressive forces are applied to said edge and to straighten when said compressive forces are withdrawn from said edge.

5. In the spring unit of claim 2 wherein one of said wire members has a loop portion formed on said constrained end.

6. In the spring unit of claim 2 wherein said wire members form said fulcrum and are resilient so as to bend about said fulcrum when said compressive forces are applied to said edge and to straighten when said compressive forces are withdrawn from said edge.

7. In a mattress spring unit an edge support construction comprising:

a. pairs of wire members attachable to the edges of c. said wire members being interlocked at said closed end portions with one another and set apart at said open end portions from one another in said supporting position;

d. said open end portions being positioned along said edges of said spring unit and are attached to border wires encompassing opposing faces of said spring unit so that said wire members extend into the interior of said spring unit;

e. each of said closed end portions being comprised of a loop portion where one of said loop portions is small and said other loop portion is large so that said small loop portion extends through said large loop portion to interlock said wire members and form a fulcrum between said loop portions and said open end portions; and

f. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about said fulcrum when compressive forces are applied to said edge and straightening when said forces are released.

8. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein said small loop portion is bent so as to be concave.

9. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein said large loop portion is bent so as to be concave.

10. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein arms extend outwardly from said open end portions and are at tached to said border wires.

11. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein said wire members are formed from border wires encompassing opposing faces of said spring unit and are positioned so as to extend into the interior of said spring unit.

l2. ln a mattress spring unit an edge support construction comprising:

a. pairs of wire members attachable to the edges of said spring unit where each of said pairs of wire members have a supporting position and non-supporting position;

b. each of said wire members being generally U- shaped so as to have an open end portion and a closed end portion;

c. said wire members being interlocked at said closed end portions with one another and set apart at said open end portions from one another in said supporting position;

. said open end portions having arms extending out wardly therefrom so as to overlapa portion of the arms of adjacent wire members;

e. said arms positioned along said edges of said inner spring unit and attached to the outermost springs by fastening means;

f. said fastening means being positioned on said arms at said overlapping portions;

g. each of said closed end portions being comprised of a loop portion where one of said loop portions is small and said other loop portion is large so that said small loop portion extends through said large loop portion to interlock said wire members and form a fulcrum between said loop portions and said open end portions; and

h. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about said fulcrum when compressive forces are applied to said edge and straightening when said forces are released.

13. In the spring unit of claim ll wherein said small loop portion is bent so as to be concave.

14. In the spring unit of claim 12 wherein said large loop portion is bent so as to be concave.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTION Patent o- 3. 708,809 Dated Januarx 9 19 7 3 Invento r(s) Erne'stoL. Basner It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby' corrected as shown below:

C01. 1, line 8, after "with" delete "between" andinsert -wire Col. 3, llihe60, ."32" should be -22-- C01. 5, line 21 '6" should be --7 Col. 5, line 23, "6" should be 7-- Col. 5, ino 25, "6" should be col. 5, line 28, "6" should be CO1. 6, line- 30 "11" should be -l2-- 01. 6, line 32 "12"" should be I "lg-- (There should be more space between last line of Claim 13 and the first line of Claim 14.)

Signed and sealed this 5th day of March 19714.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN I Attesting Officer Commissioner of Paten FORM po-wso (10-69) I uscoMM-Dc coon-Poo v U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 O-366-33 l. 

1. In a spring unit an edge support construction comprising: a. a pair of wire members being interlocked with one another in a supporting position so that each wire member has one end constrained and the other end attached to an edge of said spring unit; b. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about a fulcrum located between said constrained ends and said attached ends in said supporting position; and c. said pair of wire members being disengaged from one another in a non-supporting position so that each wire member is separated at one end and attached at the other end to said edge of said spring unit.
 2. In a spring unit an edge support construction comprising: a. a pair of wire members being interlocked with one another in a supporting position so that each wire member has one end constrained and the other end attached to an edge of said spring unit; b. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about a fulcrum located between said constrained ends And said attached ends so as to oppose any compression of said edge; c. said wire members being attached to said edge of said spring unit so as to provide support between opposing faces of said spring unit; and d. said pair of wire members being disengaged from one another in a non-supporting position so that each wire member is separated at one end and attached at the other end to said edge of said spring unit.
 3. In the spring unit of claim 1 wherein each of said wire members are interlocked at one end with one another in said supporting position.
 4. In the spring unit of claim 1 wherein each of said wire members are resilient so as to bend about said fulcrum when compressive forces are applied to said edge and to straighten when said compressive forces are withdrawn from said edge.
 5. In the spring unit of claim 2 wherein one of said wire members has a loop portion formed on said constrained end.
 6. In the spring unit of claim 2 wherein said wire members form said fulcrum and are resilient so as to bend about said fulcrum when said compressive forces are applied to said edge and to straighten when said compressive forces are withdrawn from said edge.
 7. In a mattress spring unit an edge support construction comprising: a. pairs of wire members attachable to the edges of said spring unit where each of said pairs of wire members have a supporting position and a non-supporting position; b. each of said wire members being generally U-shaped so as to have an open end portion and a closed end portion; c. said wire members being interlocked at said closed end portions with one another and set apart at said open end portions from one another in said supporting position; d. said open end portions being positioned along said edges of said spring unit and are attached to border wires encompassing opposing faces of said spring unit so that said wire members extend into the interior of said spring unit; e. each of said closed end portions being comprised of a loop portion where one of said loop portions is small and said other loop portion is large so that said small loop portion extends through said large loop portion to interlock said wire members and form a fulcrum between said loop portions and said open end portions; and f. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about said fulcrum when compressive forces are applied to said edge and straightening when said forces are released.
 8. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein said small loop portion is bent so as to be concave.
 9. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein said large loop portion is bent so as to be concave.
 10. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein arms extend outwardly from said open end portions and are attached to said border wires.
 11. In the spring unit of claim 6 wherein said wire members are formed from border wires encompassing opposing faces of said spring unit and are positioned so as to extend into the interior of said spring unit.
 12. In a mattress spring unit an edge support construction comprising: a. pairs of wire members attachable to the edges of said spring unit where each of said pairs of wire members have a supporting position and non-supporting position; b. each of said wire members being generally U-shaped so as to have an open end portion and a closed end portion; c. said wire members being interlocked at said closed end portions with one another and set apart at said open end portions from one another in said supporting position; d. said open end portions having arms extending outwardly therefrom so as to overlap a portion of the arms of adjacent wire members; e. said arms positioned along said edges of said inner spring unit and attached to the outermost springs by fastening means; f. said fastening means being positioned on said arms at said overlapping portions; g. each of said closed end portions being comprised of a loop portion where one of said loop portions is smalL and said other loop portion is large so that said small loop portion extends through said large loop portion to interlock said wire members and form a fulcrum between said loop portions and said open end portions; and h. each of said wire members operating as a lever bending about said fulcrum when compressive forces are applied to said edge and straightening when said forces are released.
 13. In the spring unit of claim 11 wherein said small loop portion is bent so as to be concave.
 14. In the spring unit of claim 12 wherein said large loop portion is bent so as to be concave. 